I saw the little boy, In thought how oft that he The young man eke that feels His bones with pains opprest, How he would be a rich old man, To live and lie at rest: The rich old man that sees His end draw on so sore, To see how all these three, And musing thus, I think, The case is very strange, That man from wealth, to live in woe, Doth ever seek to change. Thus thoughtful as I lay, I saw my withered skin, How it doth show my dented thews, And eke my toothless chaps, "The white and hoarish hairs, "Bid thee lay hand, and feel Them hanging on my chin. "Hang up, therefore, the bit Of thy young wanton time; And thou that therein beaten art, The happiest life define." Whereat I sighed, and said, "Farewell my wonted joy! Truss up thy pack, and trudge from me, COME live with me, and be my love, To every little boy; "And tell them thus from me, Their time most happy is, If to their time they reason had, To know the truth of this." And we will all the pleasures prove, That valleys, groves, and hills and fields, Wood or steepy mountain yields. And we will sit upon the rocks, Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks SIR WALTER RALEIGH. By shallow rivers, to whose falls And I will make thee beds of roses, A gown made of the finest wool, A belt of straw and ivy buds, The shepherd swains shall dance and sing, For thy delight, each May-morning: SIR WALTER RALEIGH. [1552-1618.] THE NYMPH'S REPLY. IF all the world and love were young, Time drives the flocks from field to fold, The flowers do fade, and wanton fields Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses, 5 But could youth last, and love still breed, THE PILGRIM. GIVE me my scallop-shell of quiet, My gown of glory (hope's true gauge), Over the silver mountains, My soul will be a-dry before, More peaceful pilgrims I shall see, That have cast off their rags of clay, And walk apparelled fresh, like me. THE SOUL'S ERRAND. Go, soul, the body's guest, Go, tell the court it glows, And shines like rotten wood; Go, tell the church it shows What's good, and doth no good: If church and court reply, Then give them both the lie. Tell potentates they live Acting by others' actions; Tell men of high condition |